ant fact archive

Neven Allgeier, Environment, 2017

Neven Allgeier

Environment
2017
photograph
courtesy of the artist

Desert Ants4 can navigate precisely using the sun.5 When it is obscured, they use the pattern of polarized light across the blue sky as a compass.6 They have an extra set of eyes for this.7

  • Cataglyphis
  • Santschi, 1911
  • Fent & Wehner, 1985
  • The ocelli are located on the ant’s forehead, in between her compound eyes, not unlike a magical third eye.